Philadelphia 76ers Notebook: Dorell Wright seeing minutes cut

PHILADELPHIA — Maybe he was simply being diplomatic, staying strong and saying what he needed to while the recording devices were rolling. Or maybe Dorell Wright really doesn’t know why he’s not playing.

Wright, expected to be one of the 76ers’ top shooters, has garnered only 17 minutes in each of their last two games entering Tuesday’s homestand-closing date with Toronto. Wright sat 43 of 48 minutes Nov. 16 against Utah.

“I don’t really know,” Wright said. “We’re winning. That’s just how it is. Dudes are playing good. It is what it is.”

“Losing? That ain’t fun. I’ve been on that side. But we’re winning, right? So I’m happy. Dudes are playing great and we’re winning. It’s not about me, at the end of the day. It’s about, one, a sacrifice and, two, winning.”

Through the first eight games of the season, Wright averaged 28.4 minutes and 12 points per game. Over the last pair, both victories, his numbers have been trimmed to 8.5 minutes and 1.5 points.

Sixers coach Doug Collins said a health-related issue isn’t keeping Wright from the court. Rather, he chalked up Wright’s reduction in playing time to “a logjam” of shooters.

“You know, it’s interesting,” Collins said. “When you look back on the preseason, I don’t know if I ever played all the games with all our perimeter guys. I sat out at least one guy. Now I’ve got six all healthy and playing. And that creates a logjam.”

For the record, the Sixers played all of their perimeter players in one of their seven preseason tilts.

Even with too many healthy bodies at the same position, Wright is a multi-dimensional player, a guy with long limbs that can clog passing lanes and a guy who plays sound defense. Nick Young, meanwhile, is a streaky shooter who doesn’t have as much of a motor at the other end of the floor. Young can score in bunches, but is also nearly as apt to shoot the Sixers into a poor streak. He has averaged 18 minutes and 12.5 points per game in the last two games.

Collins was more evasive when it came to sitting Maalik Wayns.

The rookie out of Villanova has been given DNP status in five of the Sixers’ first 10 games and, aside from managing 11 minutes Nov. 4 against New York, Wayns hasn’t played more than three minutes in any other game.

Out of the preseason, Wayns was expected to run the second-team offense, when point guard Jrue Holiday needed breaks. Wayns turned heads in the exhibition slate with swift play off the bench that broke up periods of monotony. He’s lost minutes of late to veteran Royal Ivey.

“The preacher spoke to him the other day,” Collins said, referring to a chat he had with Wayns. “I threw a little water on him and said, ‘Let’s go. Rock ‘n’ roll.’ … Just call me The Rev.”

Wayns wasn’t as happy-go-lucky on the topic.

“I’m a gym rat — I’ve been that way since Villanova,” Wayns said. “Even at Villanova, I was always the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. I’m used to it. It’s a little different not playing once you’re done working out (in pregame). It’s fine. I’m taking it all in.

“I come in here every day and work extra, get extra shots up with (assistant coach Aaron McKie). I’m taking my time. I’m getting better every day and learning more and more.”